The number of Australian residents travelling abroad has been increasing over the last nine financial years (table 22.19). The annual percentage increase in Australian departures was smaller than the increase in visitor arrivals until 1996-97, when those leaving increased by 8% while those arriving increased by 7%. The two following financial years also saw larger increases in Australians travelling abroad than international visitors to Australia. However, in 1999-2000 the growth in inbound visitors was almost double that of outbound visitors (9% and 5% respectively). In 1999-2000 there were over 1.3 million more international visitors to Australia than Australians travelling abroad. Consequently, tourism continues to improve the net contribution of the travel item to Australia's balance on current account (in table 30.8of International accounts and trade, the difference between travel services credits and debits).

22.19 AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS TRAVELLING ABROAD(a)

Financial year

no.

Change

%

1991-92

2,173,453

2.7

1992-93

2,299,504

5.8

1993-94

2,303,964

0.2

1994-95

2,421,983

5.1

1995-96

2,624,359

8.4

1996-97

2,837,207

8.1

1997-98

3,031,897

6.9

1998-99

3,188,692

5.2

1999-2000

3,332,258

4.5

(a) Final overseas arrivals and departures data for calendar year 2000 are not available due to delays being experienced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in processing passenger cards. Financial year data are presented in this table for only the 2002 edition of Year Book Australia.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

Australians travel abroad to visit a wide variety of destinations. As table 22.20 shows, the most popular main destination is New Zealand, accounting for 15% of Australian residents visiting other countries in 1999-2000. The next most popular destinations were the United States (11%) and the United Kingdom (10%). The number of Australian residents travelling to Indonesia fell by 26% compared to 1998-99. This fall was partly due to the political unrest in East Timor during this time.

Nearly half (45%) of Australian residents travelling abroad in 1999-2000 went for a holiday, while a further 25% went to 'visit friends/relatives'. 'Holiday' was the main purpose of trip for Australians travelling to all destinations except the Philippines, Middle East and North Africa, and 'Other Asia', where 'visiting friends/relatives' was the main purpose.

Australians travelling for 'business' reasons accounted for 17% of Australian outbound travellers. Their main destinations were New Zealand, the United States, 'Other Asia' and Singapore.

22.20AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By Country/Region of Main Destination and Main Purpose of Trip-1999-2000(a)

Main purpose of trip

Country/region of
main destination

Convention/
conference

’000

Business

’000

Visiting
friends/
relatives

’000

Holiday

’000

Employment

’000

Education

’000

Other
and
not
stated

’000

Total

’000

Change
on
1998-99

%

Fiji

4.4

8.6

13.1

76.0

0.5

1.0

3.7

107.2

2.9

New Zealand

19.3

100.1

167.2

183.1

4.9

4.1

28.1

506.7

6.1

Other Oceania

2.4

24.0

16.8

89.2

18.1

3.5

8.9

162.9

12.9

Italy

2.4

6.3

15.5

36.8

0.5

1.4

1.8

64.7

-2.3

United Kingdom

9.1

36.2

113.6

147.2

9.1

3.2

11.8

330.2

7.9

Other Europe

16.3

34.3

107.9

123.2

3.8

6.3

15.3

307.1

11.7

Indonesia

3.8

25.4

15.3

197.5

5.2

1.5

8.2

256.8

-26.4

Malaysia

7.4

21.8

26.2

61.4

3.2

1.0

5.3

126.3

12.9

Philippines

1.1

11.7

25.2

13.5

0.7

0.4

3.1

55.6

0.1

Singapore

8.5

42.5

21.7

57.9

5.7

1.8

7.9

145.9

9.1

Thailand

5.6

16.3

9.5

109.4

2.2

1.0

3.9

147.8

7.5

China

3.9

24.9

21.9

26.0

2.5

2.1

4.9

86.3

5.5

Hong Kong (SAR of China)

4.8

38.5

38.6

52.4

7.3

1.3

6.8

149.7

4.9

Other Asia

8.8

58.6

94.7

74.9

8.8

7.7

14.4

267.9

7.5

United States of America

44.0

74.6

61.4

167.5

7.0

5.6

13.6

373.7

15.4

Other America

5.9

10.2

24.3

46.5

1.7

1.6

3.7

94.0

9.1

Middle East and North Africa

1.1

7.9

28.7

28.5

3.2

1.0

6.1

76.6

-2.3

Other Africa

3.2

11.2

16.6

20.9

1.6

0.7

3.6

57.8

14.6

Not stated

0.1

0.4

-

3.4

0.5

-

10.5

15.0

-2.1

Total

152.0

553.3

818.2

1,515.1

86.5

45.4

161.7

3,332.3

4.5

(a) Final overseas arrivals and departures data for calendar year 2000 are not available due to delays being experienced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in processing passenger cards. Financial year data are presented in this table for only the 2002 edition of Year Book Australia.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

The long distances Australian residents travel to other countries is reflected in the length of time spent per trip. In 1999-2000 only 12% stayed abroad less than a week, while almost a third (32%) stayed away for at least a month (table 22.21). The high proportion of Australians 'visiting friends/relatives' (25%) also contributed to long periods of stay, as such travellers traditionally stay comparatively long periods. In 1999-2000, 50% of such visitors stayed away fora month or more.

22.21 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By Intended Length of Stay and Main Purpose of Trip-1999-2000(a)

Main purpose of trip

Intended length of stay

Convention/
conference

’000

Business

’000

Visiting
friends/
relatives

’000

Holiday

’000

Employment

’000

Education

’000

Other
and
not
stated

’000

Total

’000

Proportion
of total

%

Under 1 week

37.7

195.7

54.4

103.9

5.4

3.0

16.1

416.2

12.5

1 week and under 2 weeks

63.4

153.1

124.5

539.3

6.4

9.4

57.8

954.0

28.6

2 weeks and under 1 month

37.9

104.7

228.8

454.3

12.3

11.8

32.8

882.7

26.5

1 month and under 2 months

10.8

43.3

215.4

249.2

10.3

4.2

19.4

552.5

16.6

2 months and under 3 months

1.4

18.9

82.1

71.3

7.0

3.0

8.7

192.5

5.8

3 months and under 6 months

0.7

19.1

73.3

55.2

13.4

5.0

10.2

176.8

5.3

6 months and under 12 months

0.1

18.4

39.7

42.0

31.7

8.9

16.8

157.6

4.7

Total

152.0

553.3

818.2

1,515.1

86.5

45.4

161.7

3,332.3

100.0

(a)Final overseas arrivals and departures data for calendar year 2000 are not available due to delays being experienced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in processing passenger cards. Financial year data are presented in this table for only the 2002 edition of Year Book Australia.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

While the number of Australian residents departing for visits abroad varies from month to month, there are not large seasonal fluctuations. The largest number of departures was in September (10%), while February recorded the lowest number of departures (6%) (table 22.22).

22.22 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By Month of Departure and Main Purpose of Trip-1999-2000(a)